downsides to cabovers?

I remember them well.

 

I've only been in cabovers twice. Once as a passenger when I was a kid, a family friend took me on one of his logging runs in his Transtar. My dad had a '72 Datsun pickup at the time, so I wouldn't have recognized a good ride from a bad one.

When I was driving for Ryder Dedicated back in '96, they had me drive a Pete 362 from Scottsville to Memphis - bobtail. From there, I got in one of our regular Freightshakers with a loaded trailer and went on a regular set of runs to the Dollar General stores. Again, maybe it was because I was used to Freightshakers, but if the Pete had a bad ride, I didn't notice it. In fact, I liked it. If it had been better maintained, I probably would've thought about buying it.

As someone else mentioned, International had the 9800 series with the Pro Sleeper. It had a flat floor and you could stand up from the driver's seat and walk back to the bunk. I wouldn't mind having one of those at all. It would be great for backing behind the DG stores.

Of course, I've spent the past few years driving an XJ6 and sitting in a nice office. I've been spoiled. Even my friends' late-model SUVs ride like buggies by comparison.

 

I started my truck driving career at MNX in a cabover. An old ragedy Freightliner with a whopping 235 horse engine. That truck and I put on alot of miles, for a beginner it really saved my butt a few times backing into hard to get at docks.

Swift purchased MNX and stole my thunder. Wasn't too long before I quit them and found another job...

 

Not trying to hijack this thread but Irishtrucker, your avatar really caught my attention. I'm a former EME Sgt of the Canadian Forces (years ago we were known as RCEME) and I have that same Horse tattooed on my chest.

Arte Et Marte!

 

I remember that there used to be this Pete cabover from south Georgia that used to roam I-75. It was blue colored, had a big Texas bumper, chicken lights, window in the back of the sleeper, a periscope intake and big chrome dual 7 inch straight pipe exhaust. Hawt truck.

 

The first truck I ever bought (at the tender age of 19) was a '69 Freightliner cab over with a 335 Cummins and a Dana Spicer Married 4X4, 72" BBC and Reyco spring rear suspension. Rough ridin' old truck (5 years old when I bought it) But I was a proud "Owner Operator" I had a big square Texas bumper and chicken lights all over that thing.

It beat me to death on those California highways but I was young and durable and didn't know any better. I bought my first new truck a year later (1975 W900) and never looked back. Been drivin W9's pretty much ever since! Oh Yeah...There was a Peterbilt or two in there over the years but we all make mistakes!

 

Everybody should have to drive a cabover at least once just for the experience.Your not a real trucker till you have driven a cab over.(LOL)

 

I learned to drive in a 1981 Peterbilt Cabover...it was Dads truck, he sold it in 1986 and bought a 359.

 

Well, you are sitting right over the engine and steer axle.

The thing will beat you to death on bumpy roads and the engine heat radiates up to the motor cover making things a bit warm.

Not good when the old Cab-overs didnt have A/C. The first rig I drove was a CO and the rubber shift boot on the floor was ripped and heat and dust would come up into the cab. Had to wrap a wet towel around it everyday to stop that.

Oh those were the day, I'll tell you! I dont miss C/O's at all. Oh yeah, and if you get in a rear ender, you get a front row seat!